Quick detachable connector for light fishing tackle



P 15, 1964 A. A. l-NNSPACH 3,148,423

QUICK DETACHABLE CONNECTOR FOR LIGHT FISHING TACKLE Original Filed Nov.15, 1957 IN VENT OR Arckz'eAAmspac/L BY 6%: 24 M A ORNEY United StatesPatent 3,148,423 QUICK DETACHABLE CONNECTOR FOR LIGHT FISHING TACKLEArchie A. Anspach, 359 Gundry Drive, Falls Church, Va. Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 696,172, Nov. 13, 1957. This application Dec. 6,1961, Ser. No. 160,393 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-123) The present inventionrelates to the general art of fishing equipment, and more particularly,to a means for attaching and detaching a fishing leader to the end of afishing line. Such leaders are, of course, provided adjacent their outerends with bait, hooks, lines, etc.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a device ofthe class described which functions easily and quickly, even underunfavorable conditions, such as places where visibility is poor, etc.,being capable of operation principally through the feeling of thecomponent elements by the fisherman.

Another object is the attainment of the foregoing ends with a devicewhich is durable in service, and which may be easily and inexpensivelymanufactured.

The invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully describedand as particularly pointed out in the claims, the following descriptionand the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative of some of possiblyseveral ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In said drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective illustrating a device made in accordance withthe teachings of the present invention, the same comprising a hollow,generally cylindrical split thimble and a member adapted to cooperatetherewith, as will be described more fully hereinafter;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the parts illustrated inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective of the form of interior part which isillustrated in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modification,the same comprising an interior part or element of changed construction;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective of the interior part of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view, partly in section, illustrating a furtherembodiment; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective of that part or element of FIGURE 6 which isadapted to cooperate with the hollow, generally cylindrical thimble.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 generallydesignates the main body portion of the device of the present invention,the same comprising a hollow and generally cylindrical shell or thimble2, the upper portion of which is of dome shape, as shown at 4, andprovided with a central aperture 5. The side wall of this shell or thimle 2 is provided with a slot 6 which extends axially throughout itslength.

The lower portion of the shell or thimble 2 is transversely cropped asat 7 at a longitudinally oblique angle. The faces of the croppedportions of the side wall of the thimble may, if desired, be reverselycurved in the manner indicated in FIGURES 2, 5 and 6. The lowermostportion of the transversely cropped end 7 of the thimble 2 is providedwith an aperture 9 to receive one end of the leader, or other fishingdevice, generally indicated at 10, which may be threaded therethroughand knotted in the manner well known in the art.

According to the teachings of the present invention, the fishing line 12is adapted to make engagement either 3,148,423 Patented Sept. 15, 1964directly or indirectly (as will appear hereinafter) with the upperrounded portion 4 of the thimble.

According to the embodiment of FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 4, the fishing line12 may extend through the central aperture 5 in the rounded upper end 4of the thimble 2, and also through an interiorly disposed element (to belater described), the end of said line being knotted to preventwithdrawal.

More specifically, in the embodiment of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, there isemployed a ferrule 14 which comprises a tapered tubular body portion,the outer end of which is beveled as at 15. The lower (and thereforeinner) end of the ferrule 14 is provided with an annular flange 16. Thisflange (16) and the tapered tubular body portion (14) may, if desired,be frusto-conical in shape, the important feature in this instance beingthat the tapered tubular portion engages the (annular) side wall of theaperture 5 in firm relationship, the remainder of the ferrule being, forthe most part, if not entirely, out of contact with the side wall of thethimble.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, there may be employed, in lieu of theferrule 14, an inverted cup member 20, the side wall or skirt of whichis slotted, as at 21, the top being rounded, as at 23, and provided witha central aperture 25. According to this embodiment, the end of thefishing line 12 is knotted on the underside of the inverted cup member20.

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the fishing line12 is connected to the thimble 2 through an intermediate membergenerally designated at 39, the same being acceptably formed of stoutwire and comprising a main shank with the upper eyelet 32 and a lowerportion 34 which is upset to provide two spaced protuberances simulatinga dumbbell or hour-glass, the intermediate pontion thereof being ofreduced diameter, as shown at 35, and, if desired, smoothly concave, asshown. This concave portion 35, which is intermediate the aforementionedspaced protuberances, receives an annular member 36, the periphery ofwhich is rounded and adapted to seat against the side wall of thethimble 2, the latter, in this case, being provided with an annularconcave recess 37.

According to all of the embodiments described herein and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, the split thimble 2 and the member with whichit is to cooperate (whether it be the ferrule 14, inverted cup member29, or the member 3%) may be formed of various types of materials; forexample, non-ferrous metal, plastics such as nylon or Teflon, etc.

It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that, in actualpractice, the thimble 2 and its associated member are very small insize, the outside diameter of the thimble being in the nature ofthree-sixteenths 7 inch, or less, the various embodiments beingappreciably enlarged in the accompanying drawing for purposes of claritymd understanding.

In connecting the fishing leader to the fishing line pursuant to theteachings of the present invention, the knotted portion of the fishingleader 10, and possibly also the lower end of the thimble 2, may begrasped between the thumb and one of the fingers of the left hand, andthe fishing line 12 so held between the thumb and fingers of the righthand that the member carried on its end (whether it be the ferrule 14,inverted cup member 20, or the member 31 of FIGURES 6 and 7 may easilybe seated within the thimble and the fishing line and leader so pulledin opposite directions as to enable a firm engagement between thecooperating parts. During such movement, it will be understood that thefishing line 12 is inserted in the thimble 2 sidewise through thelongitudinally extending slot 6.

The present application is a continuation of my Patent application Ser.No. 696,172, filed November 13, 1957, entitled Attaching Means forFishing Leaders.

While I have shown and described several specific embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled in theart that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since variousmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A coupling device for light fishing tackle and the like, comprising athin-walled tubular thirnb -le including a fully open cylindrical endand a dome-like end having a central aperture therein; a portion of theside wall of said thin-walled tubular thimble being tapered inwardlytoward the fully open end thereof, thereby providing a tail portion; aline connected to the aforementioned tail portion of said thin-walledtubular thimble adjacent its outer extremity; the shortest portion ofthe side Wall of said thin-walled tubular thimble having a slot whichextends longitudinally throughout and into communication with thecentral aperture in said dome-like end; a second line; and a connectorelement secured to said second line; said connector element including asubstantially round base portion of substantially greater diameter thanthe aforementioned central aperture and adapted to seat in saidthin-walled tubular thimble immediately under its 4 dome-like end; thewidth of the slot in the shortest por- :tion of the side wall of saidthin-walled tubular thimble being smaller than the diameter of saidcentral aperture but greater than the diameter of said second line.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the connector element carries atapered extension which is adapted to extend partially through saidcentral aperture.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the connector element carries acentrally disposed rod-like member which is adapted to extend throughsaid central aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS561,855 Baptist June 9, 1896 975,067 Prosser Nov. 8, 1910 1,206,584Palmer Nov. 28, 1916 1,284,972 Anthony Nov. 19, 1918 1,432,117 MillerOct. 17, 1922 1,453,138 Holliday Apr. 24, 1923 1,614,407 Stainbrook Ian.11, 1927 1,692,649 Goodridge et al Nov. 20, 1928 1,771,125 Kahle July22, 1930 1,895,301 Vanderrnark Jan. 24, 1933 2,561,144 Seaton "a July17, 1951 2,763,089 McDonald Sept. 18, 1956

1. A COUPLING DEVICE FOR LIGHT FISHING TACKLE AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING ATHIN-WALLED TUBULAR THIMBLE INCLUDING A FULLY OPEN CYLINDRICAL END AND ADOME-LIKE END HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE THEREIN; A PORTION OF THE SIDEWALL OF SAID THIN-WALLED TUBULAR THIMBLE BEING TAPERED INWARDLY TOWARDTHE FULLY OPEN END THEREOF, THEREBY PROVIDING A TAIL PORTION; A LINECONNECTED TO THE AFOREMENTIONED TAIL PORTION OF SAID THIN-WALLED TUBULARTHIMBLE ADJACENT ITS OUTER EXTREMITY; THE SHORTEST PORTION OF THE SIDEWALL OF SAID THIN-WALLED TUBULAR THIMBLE HAVING A SLOT WHICH EXTENDSLONGITUDINALLY THROUGHOUT AND INTO COMMUNICATION WITH THE CENTRALAPERTURE IN SAID DOME-LIKE END; A SECOND LINE; AND A CONNECTOR ELEMENTSECURED TO SAID SECOND LINE; SAID CONNECTOR ELEMENT INCLUDING ASUBSTANTIALLY